Duplin has first emergency services training officer

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County has acquired its first emergency services training officer.

Training officer Jeremy Hill came to work for the first day Monday from Lenoir County, where he had been the emergency medical services training officer for two years. Hill has been a paramedic for a long time, said EMS Director Curtis Brock, who took him around to meet all the emergency medical technician crews Monday.

"We're acquiring top-notch help," said Brock. "We're very fortunate. A training officer is something Duplin County has never had, and we look forward to him bridging the gap between the EMTs, the community college and the medical director."

He said Hill will be a valuable liaison with the volunteers, who after giving their time, have to go to school on their own time to upgrade the level of care they can give to patients.

"The training officer will make it more user-friendly for the volunteers," he said.

Today, he and Hill are working on the county's EMS plan. The county is making a transition to a full-paid force covering the county 24 hours a day.